Lionel Messi of Barcelona sets new goal-scoring record

Barcelona's Lionel Messi has set the record for most goals in a calendar year by scoring his 86th goal of 2012.

The 25-year-old Argentine overhauled Gerd Mueller's tally of 85 - set in 1972 - to create a new benchmark which includes goals for club and country.

Messi's goals month-by-month

January 7

February 10

March 13

April 9

May 8

June 4

July 0

August 7

September 5

October 10

November 9

December 4

Source: Opta

Messi broke the record with two goals in a 2-1 win over Real Betis on Sunday.

He fired in an angled shot after 16 minutes to equal the record, before adding a second with a low drive in the 25th minute to reach the new mark.

Three-time World Player of the Year Messi's attempt to break German Mueller's record looked set to falter after he was carried off on a stretcher during Barcelona's Champions League group game draw with Benfica on Wednesday.

The forward feared he had seen the "last ball I'd touch for a long time because of the pain" but the injury to his left knee was not as bad as he thought and he started against Betis.

Messi's path to the record has included 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina in 66 games.

He still has two league matches and one King's Cup tie to add to his tally before the end of the year.

"I always say the same, it's nice for what it means but the victory is more important as it maintains our lead over the other teams," Messi told Spanish TV station Canal Plus afterwards.

"My goal when the year began was to try to achieve everything again, with the team, in the league, the (King's) Cup, the Champions League."

Mueller scored 72 for Bayern Munich and 13 for West Germany when he set the previous benchmark in 1972 and was 27 at the time.

"I think his records will be valued more in the future, it's one more for now but he makes it seem so easy it's hard to measure his talent," said Zubizarreta, who spent eight years as goalkeeper at the Nou Camp.

"It's a team game and he needs his team-mates to help him."

Messi is already Barcelona's all-time record goalscorer but was equal with Cesar Rodriguez on 192 at the top of the club's leading league scoring list before his goals against Betis moved him clear at the top of that as well.

I don't like to take too much away from him because he is clearly one of the greatest of our time However that record would not be possible playing in the Premier League. Having watched a lot of matches from Spain there is some really dire defending in that division at times.

Lets not compare him too much to those from other generations. Messi is one of the best ever to grace the game, but you have to take into consideration the massive improvements in facilities available to the modern day footballer in comparison to previous generations of footballers. Anyways, congratulations to the best player on the planet, and possibly ever, in reaching this remarkable milestone.

Watch the players on the pitch...don't look at team stats..Messi first..maradona second...a gap to the rest including pele.Messi saves Barcelona week after week and is a constant match-winner against great sides in Europe and Spain.The point is he carries a great team..this argument that until he carries a weak team he can't be considered the greatest ever is sheer nonsense.

A great player, the best in the world for sure. The best ever ? Nope. He hasn't surpassed Maradona who dragged an average Napoli to the title and led Argentina to the World Cup. But if Messi continues as he has done until now, it will be IMPOSSIBLE to say he is not the best EVER.

He does it against the best teams in Europe and European club football is higher quality than international football.

Really finding it impossible to argue against him being the best ever. So pleased because his attitude and work rate are first rate. After seeing how ugly football is at half one today it's refreshing he brings respect to the sport.

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